Tank cleaning machine



INVENTOR, TZ/C e ZQMeicaZf nuel Man .flngeZa 9 .Ma

HI 'I M E METCALF EI'AL TANK CLEANING MACHINE June 15, 1954 Filed Jan. a, 1953 ATTCIRN EYE June 15, 1954 M. METCALF HAL 2,681,250

TANK CLEANING MACHINE Filed Jan. 6, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ATTU RNEYS Patented June l5, 1954 UNITED 2,681,250 TANK CLEANING MACHINE Maurice E. Metcalf an Port Arth Application January 6, 1953,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a cleaning machine, and more particularly to a machine for cleaning tanks.

simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the tank cleaning mechanism, constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational View of the tank cleaning mechanism of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the tank cleaning mechanism.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken through the nozzle on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view r able source of supply of fluid,

The tube 20 is provided with an annular flange 22, Figure 4, and the flange 22 terminates in a down hanging annular collar 23. Arranged contiguous to the lower edge of the collar 23 is a stationary beveledgear 24. In-

of the assembly shown in H d Angelas Manuel,

Tex.

Serial No. 329,766

slot 33 that is cylinder 4|, there being a check flange 22 is 2. terposed between the beveled gear 24 and the a thrust washer 25, and the washer 25 is secured to a rotary sleeve 27 by means of pins 26.

The sleeve 21 is provided with a pair of.diametrically opposed openings 28, and rotatably mounted in the openings 28 is a neck 29, there being bearings 36 for rotatably supporting the neck 29. The neck 29 is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 33 for the egress therethrough of water, whereby water or other fluid can pass from the pipe 2|, through the tube 20, then through the sleeve 21, then through the apertures 33 and into the inside of the neck 29.

provided with an aperture or opening 32 therein for the passage therethrough of water.

Connected to an end of the neck 29 is a beveled gear 34 which meshes with the beveled gear 24. A pin 35 has one end arranged in engagement with the beveled gear 34, and the pin 35 includes a portion which extends through a arranged in a bracket 43.. Arranged in spaced relation below the bracket 38 is a block 39', and a stem 40 has its lower end arranged in engagement with the block 39. The stem 40 extends through a piston or plunger 42 which is reciprocably arranged in a cylinder 4|. The cylinder tank 36 being separated from the upper portion of the sleeve 2'! by means of a wall 31.

The upper end of the stem 4!! is arranged in A pair of spaced 43. is connected to the flange suitable screws 45.

A pair of spaced parallel securing elements 46 which may be nuts, are arranged on opposite sides of the plunger 42, so that as the stem .40 moves up and down the plunger or piston 42 will likewise be reciprocated in the cylinder 4|. A conduit 47 has one and connected to the bottom of the tank 36, while the other end of the conduit 4'! is connected to the lower end of the valve 48 positioned in the end of the conduit 4'! which is contiguous to the cylinder 4!. This check valve 48 24 however, a ratchet collar 23 by means of is arranged in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 54 and ,to urge the .pawl

teeth of the ratchet wheel. An arm 5! is connected'to the pawl '55 and the arm '5! is conto an end'of the neck example water, and the tube J serves to permit fluid to pass from the tank 36 to the cylinder 4| as needed and also serves to prevent the fluid from flowing in the opposite direction from the cylinder 4| to the tank 33.

A tube 49 is arranged in communication with the tank 36, and a check valve 53 is positioned in the tube 43, the check valve 50 serving to permit air to flow into the tank 33 as the fluid is withdrawn therefrom.

A conduit or tube 53 has one end communicating with the upper end of the cylinder 4|, while the other end of the conduit 53 communicates with thelower end of the cylinder 4|. A valveiil is interposed in the conduit 53, and a manually operable body member 52 is arranged in threaded engagement with the valve 5|. Thus, by adjusting the position of the body'member52 in "the valve 5|, the size of the orifice or opening in the valve 5| can be regulated so that the passage of fluid through the cylinder 4| can be controlled so that the piston 42 acts as an adjust- V "able-brake mechanism to control the rate of rotation of "the nozzles.

Referring to Figures suitable source of fluid under pressure, and secur ing elements such as screws 45 again extend through the collar 23. Instead of using the gear wheel 34 is secured to the the screws 45.

a spring member 56 serves 55 into engagement with the nected to-an end of a shaft 58. IA body member 5,9 is connected to the shaft 58, and a shaft 60 extends from the body member 59. A roller BI is mounted-on an end of the shaft 60, and the roller 6| is urged into engagement with a cam 63 by meansoi' a spring 32. The cam in 'lieu of the previously described beveled gear 34. The neck 29 again has projecting therefrom the diametrically opposed nozzles 3i.

The present invention is especially suitable for cleaning tanks, but it is to be understood that the present invention can be used for cleaning other objects as well. In use, the mechanism is arranged contiguous to the portion of the tank to be cleaned. The tube 2!! can be connected to a suitable source of fluid under pressure, as for 23 will convey the the sleeve 21, the

water to the sleeve 21. From f fluid passes through the openings 33 and into the neck 29 and from the nozzles 3| and out through the openings 32.

the neck 29 it passes through This causes the nozzles 3! to rotate due to the jet reactive force of the water issuing from the 7 openings 32.

rotation'of the neck 29 and it will be noted'that "the beveled gear 34 is secured to the neck 29.

As the nozzles 3| rotate, they cause The beveled gear 34 meshes with the stationary [beveled gear 24 so that not'only .do the nozzles rotatein a vertical plane, but also thenozzles 3| and neck 29 are caused to travel in ahorizontal plane; thoroughly cleaned by the Thus the entire surface of the tank is issuing jets of fluid.

6, 7, 8 and 9 of the draw: 'ings, there is shown a modified arrangement 7 wherein instead of using the intermeshing bev- A pawl 55 63 is secured 2s, and the cam 63 is used 7 which engages in a horizontal andvertical water.

stem 4!] moves up and down it carries the piston 42 therewith so that the hydraulic fluid above and below the piston 42 is constantly worked on. This acts as a brake mechanism whereby the speed of rotation of the nozzles can be accurately controlled. The tank 36 acts as a reservoir to supply hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 4| and by adjusting the body member 52 in the valve 5| the rate of flow of fluid through the conduit '53 can be accurately controlled so that the speed of rotation of the nozzles ill in a horizontal and vertical plane can be regulated as desired.

,In 'usingthe arrangement shown in Figures 6 through 9, the ratchet assembly is used in lieu of the intermeshing gears to cause rotation of the nozzles 3| in a horizontal plane. Thus, as the nozzles 3| rotate due'to the issuing jets of water, the neck 2!. is rotated and this causes rotation of the cam 63. Then, the rotation of the cam 63 causes in and out movement of the roller 6i and this in turn is imparted to the pawl 55 the teeth of the-ratchet wheel 54 to cause simultaneous rotation of the-nozzles 3| plane.

The present invention is adapted to be used for cleaning objects such as tanks by means of The jet pressure of the water leaving the openings 32 in the nozzles 3 tie sufiicient to turn the neck 39 which is rotatably mounted in the sleeve 27. The gear 241s stationary so that as the neck 23 rotates the neck 23' and sleeve 2'! are quired.

also turned in a horizontal plane. Thus,'a large tank can'be readily washed. However, ordinarily the water issuing from the nozzles 3| would gradually increase the speed so that eventually there would issue a spray of water from the nozzles instead of a steady stream which is re- To avoid this difficulty, the hydraulic piston 42 in the cylinder 4| is provided and when the piston 42 moves to the top of the cylinder 4|, this piston forces the fluid out through the tube 53, then through the valve 5| to the bottom of the cylinder 4| and when the piston moves'downwardly, the fluid pass is reversed. As long as the valve 5-! is open, the piston 42 reciprocates up and down freely, but'by partially closing the valve 5| with the member 52, a braking action is applied will not be able to flow as Thismovement is age and shafts'to-the pawl 55 which moves the .gratchet gear '54 so that the nozzles and cylinder vSimultaneously,the pin 35 is moved-by the gear 34 to which. it is attached, and as the pin 35 moves it raises and lowers the stem 40. As the set-temperature. This slowing of supplyof fluid,

to the piston 42 because of the fact that liquid freely through a hole of a fixed size with a set amount of pressure at a down of the piston 42 therefore slows the speed of the beveled gear 34 which slows the entire unit. The tank 36 acts as a reserve tank for the cylinder 4| and the check valve 43 permits the fluidto flow from the tank 36 to the cylinder 4|. The check valve 50 lets air into the reserve tank as the fluid is withdrawn therefrom. The hydraulic cylinder 4| together with the valve 5| can be adjusted to control the speed of the machine.

The ratchet arrangement shown in Figures 6 through!) will, when being used, prevent the tank cleaning machine from revolving too fast. In

"thismodified arrangement the intermeshing beveled gears are not used, and instead the roller 6| rides on the cam 63 and as the cam'rotates with the-nozzles'iii, the roller 5| is moved in and out.

transmitted through the linkmove :in a horizontal as well as a Weclaim: ,1. A tank cleaning machine comprising a stationary tube adapted to be connectedto a'source vertical plane.

a rotatable sleeve arranged in end to end relation with respect to said tube, there being diametrically opposed opening in said sleeve, a neck extending through said openings, interengaging means connecting said neck to said tube, said neck being provided with a plurality of apertures communicating with said sleeve, a pair of diametrically opposed nozzles extending from said neck, the lower end of said sleeve being provided with a tank for holding fluid, a cylinder arranged contiguous to said tank, a piston reciprocably arranged in said cylinder, a stem extending through said piston and cylinder and slidably mounted in said cylinder, a pin connecting the upper end of said stem to said interengaging means, a conduit connecting the lower end of said cylinder to the lower end of said tank, a conduit connecting the lower and upper ends of said cylinder together, a valve arranged in said last named conduit, a bracket provided with a slot for receiving said pin, a block arranged below said bracket and adapted to be connected to said stem, and rods having their lower ends connected to said block and their upper ends slidably engaging said bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,435,140 Rolland Nov. '7, 1922 1,642,910 Thompson Sept. 20, 1927 1,965,912 Strawn Ju1y 10, 1934 2,030,194 Bell Feb. 11, 1936 2,074,052 George Mar. 16, 193

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 623,780 Great Britain May 23, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES Rippey: Abstract of application Serial Number 80,752, published July 31, 1951, 648 O. G. 1542. 

